North Texas-Houston game postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests

The Houston Cougars just can't get their 2020 season started amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

On Wednesday afternoon, North Texas confirmed that Saturday's game at Houston has been called off due to positive COVID-19 cases within the program. 

The school statement reads: 

Due to COVID-19 positive test results and subsequent contact tracing this week, the North Texas football team's game with Houston scheduled for this Saturday, Sept. 26 has been canceled. The two teams are working to find a date to reschedule the game.

Following student-athlete, coaching staff and inner personnel being tested three times each week since August, there were a total of four positive tests this week. Those people are in isolation and their close contacts have been identified. The succeeding contact tracing of those positive tests left the football program unable to field a team for a game this week.

As Andrea Adelson noted for ESPN, Houston previously had would-be campaign openers against Rice, Baylor and Memphis postponed as well. A Sept. 12 matchup versus Washington State was canceled when the Pac-12 postponed football and other fall sports on Aug. 11 because of the health crisis. 

Houston's next fixture on its calendar is an Oct. 8 showdown with Tulane. 

North Texas, meanwhile, fell to 1-1 following a 65-35 loss to SMU last Saturday. The Mean Green are scheduled to face Southern Mississippi on Oct. 3.